Smart garment, user terminal, system including same, and method of changing design of smart garment

ABSTRACT

The disclosed embodiments provide a smart garment on which implemented designs can be changed in terms of color, image, text, etc. Also, a system is provided that comprises: a server for providing various designs to be implemented on a smart garment; and a user terminal that can change the design of the smart garment by receiving various designs from the server and transmitting same to the smart garment. The system according to the disclosed embodiments comprises: a server including a design database for a smart garment; a user terminal for downloading a design for the smart garment from the server; and the smart garment on which the design transmitted from the user terminal is implemented.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/765,484 filed on Apr. 2, 2018, which is a 371 of InternationalApplication No. PCT/KR2016/003403 filed Apr. 1, 2016, which claimspriority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0139231 filed Oct. 2,2015, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosed technology relates to a garment capable of changing adesign, such as a color, an image, or the like.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, various wearable devices equipped with an Internet functionare being developed. Along with this trend, the technology of Internetof Things (IoT) is continuously developing.

Research has been continuously conducted to develop garments thatperform various functions by introducing IoT technology to people'sclothing in addition to electrical appliances.

SUMMARY

Disclosed embodiments provide a smart garment capable of changingdesign, such as a color, an image, or text, which are implemented on thegarment.

In addition, disclosed embodiments provide a system including a serverwhich provides various designs to be implemented on a smart garment anda user terminal which receives the various designs from the server andtransmits the designs to the smart garment to change a design of thesmart garment.

A system according to the disclosed embodiment includes: a smart garmentprovided to allow a design including a color, an image, text, andcombinations thereof to be changed; a server including a design databasewith respect to the smart garment; a provider terminal provided toupload a design of the smart garment to the server; and a user terminalprovided to download the design of the smart garment from the server andtransmit a signal corresponding to the design of the smart garment tothe smart garment to change the design of the smart garment.

Further, the smart garment may include a fabric including color-changingfibers and textile fibers, and a connection module provided to receivethe signal transmitted by the user terminal.

Further, the color-changing fiber may include at least one of acholesteric liquid crystal fiber, an electronic ink fiber, anelectrochromic fiber, and an electroluminescent fiber.

Further, the user terminal may be paired with the smart garment andtransmit a design selected by a user to the paired smart garment.

Further, the user terminal may display a garment display area providedto allow the smart garment to be displayed, a color selection areaprovided to allow a color of the smart garment displayed in the garmentdisplay area to be selected, an image selection area provided to allowan image, which will be implemented on the smart garment displayed inthe garment display area, to be selected, and a text input area providedto allow text, which will be implemented on the smart garment displayedin the garment display area, to be input.

A user terminal according to the disclosed embodiment includes: acommunicator configured to communicate with a server and a smartgarment; a display configured to display a design of the smart garmenttransmitted from the server and received by the communicator; and aprocessor configured to transmit a signal including selected designinformation to the smart garment through the communicator when thedesign of the smart garment displayed on the display is selected.

Further, the display may display a search button provided to receive acommand for searching for a smart garment, a garment display area inwhich a found smart garment is displayed when the command is input viathe search button, and a pairing button provided to receive a commandfor pairing with a garment selected among garments displayed on thegarment display area.

Further, when the selected smart garment is paired with the userterminal through the pairing button, the display may display the pairedsmart garment in the garment display area.

Further, when the command is input via the search button, the processormay search for smart garments around the user terminal and be pairedwith a smart garment selected by a user among the found smart garmentswhen the command is input via the pairing button.

Further, the display may display a garment display area in which thesmart garment is displayed, a color selection area provided to allow acolor of the smart garment displayed in the garment display area to beselected, an image selection area provided to allow an image, which willbe implemented on the smart garment displayed in the image display area,to be selected, and a text input area provided to allow text, which willbe implemented on the smart garment displayed in the garment displayarea, to be input.

Further, the display may display the color selection area below thegarment display area, display the image selection area below the colorselection area, and display the text input area below the imageselection area.

Further, when the smart garment displayed in the garment display area ispaired with the user terminal, the display may display an objectrepresenting that the smart garment displayed in the garment displayarea is paired with the user terminal.

Further, when the smart garment displayed in the garment display area ischanged, the display may change a color and a type of an image displayedin the color selection area and the image selection area to a color andan image which are associated with the changed smart garment, anddisplay the changed color and image.

Further, the display may display at least one of an image received fromthe server, an image stored in the user terminal, and an object fordriving a camera of the user terminal in the image selection area.

Further, when the object is selected and capturing of the camera isperformed, the display may apply an image captured by the camera to thesmart garment displayed in the garment display area.

Further, the processor may transmit the captured image to the smartgarment.

Further, when the image displayed in the image selection area isselected, the processor may transmit the selected image to the smartgarment and the display may display the selected image on the smartgarment displayed in the garment display area.

Further, when the color displayed in the color selection area isselected, the processor may transmit the selected color to the smartgarment and the display may apply the selected color to the smartgarment displayed in the garment display area.

Further, when text is input to the text input area, the processor maytransmit the input text to the smart garment and the display may displaythe input text on the smart garment displayed in the garment displayarea.

Further, the processor may generate a design, which will be implementedon the smart garment on the basis of location information or weatherinformation, and transmit the generated design to the smart garmentthrough the communicator.

Further, the processor may generate a design based on surroundinginformation of the user terminal and transmit the generated design tothe smart garment.

A smart garment according to the disclosed embodiment includes: a firstmaterial including a first electrode and a second electrode; a secondmaterial including a third electrode and a fourth electrode; and aconnection module including a first ground terminal configured to groundany one of the first electrode and the second electrode in response to asignal transmitted by a user terminal, a first signal terminal applyinga voltage to the remaining one of the first electrode and the secondelectrode, a second ground terminal configured to ground any one of thethird electrode and the fourth electrode, and a second signal terminalapplying a voltage to the remaining one of the third electrode and thefourth electrode.

Further, the connection module may include a connector provided to beconnected to the user terminal using a wire.

Further, the connection module may include a communicator provided tocommunicate with the user terminal through wired/wireless communication.

Further, when the communicator receives a signal transmitted by the userterminal, the connection module may include at least one driver providedto apply a voltage to the smart garment in response to the receivedsignal.

Further, when the communicator receives the signal transmitted by theuser terminal, the connection module may include a processor provided togenerate a control signal for controlling the at least one driver.

Further, the connection module may include a memory provided to storeinformation on the smart garment and, when the communicator receives thesignal transmitted by the user terminal, provided to store informationincluded in the received signal.

Further, the connection module may include a battery provided to supplypower.

Further, the first material and the second material may includecholesteric liquid crystal fibers.

Further, the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber may include a cholestericliquid crystal, a first electrode provided at one side of thecholesteric liquid crystal, a second electrode provided at a sideopposite the first electrode, an insulator provided between the firstelectrode and the second electrode, and a protective layer provided tocover the first electrode, the second electrode, and the insulator.

Further, the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber may further include aconnection portion provided to connect the cholesteric liquid crystalfibers so as to extend the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber.

Further, the connection portion may include a first connection electrodeprovided to connect the first electrodes of the cholesteric liquidcrystal fibers, a second connection electrode provided to connect thesecond electrodes of the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, and aninsulator provided between the first connection electrode and the secondconnection electrode.

Further, the cholesteric liquid crystal may include a partition wallprovided to maintain a shape of the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber.

Further, a cross section of the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber may beprovided in any one of a circular shape and a polygonal shape.

Further, the cholesteric liquid crystal may include a pixel including atleast one of a red sub-cell configured to reflect red light, a greensub-cell configured to reflect green light, and a blue sub-cellconfigured to reflect blue light.

Further, the pixel may be provided so that the red sub-cell, the greensub-cell, and the blue sub-cell are formed to be coplanar.

Further, the pixel may be provided so that the red sub-cell, the greensub-cell, and the blue sub-cell are formed to have a stacked structure.

Further, the cholesteric liquid crystal may include a grid provided toseparates the red sub-cell, the green sub-cell, and the blue sub-cell.

Further, the grid may include textile fibers.

Further, the first material and the second material may includeelectronic ink fibers.

Further, the electronic ink fiber may include a plurality of electronicink capsules including an electronic ink, a first electrode provided atone side of the electronic ink capsules, a second electrode provided ata side opposite the first electrode, an insulator provided between thefirst electrode and the second electrode, and a protective layerprovided to cover the first electrode, the second electrode, and theinsulator.

Further, the electronic ink capsule may include at least one electronicink among a red electronic ink configured to reflect red light, a greenelectronic ink configured to reflect green light, and a blue electronicink configured to reflect blue light, a black electronic ink configuredto absorb light, and a white electronic ink configured to reflect light.

Further, the first material and the second material may includeelectrochromic fibers.

Further, the electrochromic fiber may include a first electrode, acounter electrode provided outside the first electrode, an electrolyteprovided outside the counter electrode, a working electrode providedoutside the electrolyte, a second electrode provided outside the workingelectrode, and a protective layer provided to cover the secondelectrode.

Further, at least one of the counter electrode and the working electrodemay include a color-changing material.

Further, the counter electrode may include a first color-changingmaterial that changes color as the first color-changing material isoxidized.

Further, the working electrode may include a second color-changingmaterial that changes color as the second color-changing material isreduced.

Further, the first material and the second material may includeelectroluminescent fibers.

Further, the electroluminescent fiber may include a first electrode, alight emitter provided outside the first electrode, a second electrodeprovided outside the light emitter, and a protective layer provided tocover the second electrode.

Further, the electroluminescent fiber may include a first electrode, alight emitter provided outside the first electrode, at least threesecond electrodes provided outside the light emitter and provided not incontact with each other, a red color filter, a green color filter, and ablue color filter which are each provided outside a corresponding one ofthe at least three second electrodes, and a protective layer provided tocover the red color filter, the green color filter, and the blue colorfilter.

Further, the electroluminescent fiber may include a first electrode, ared light emitter, a green light emitter, and a blue light emitterprovided outside the first electrode, a second electrode providedoutside each of the red light emitter, the green light emitter, and theblue light emitter, and a protective layer provided to cover the secondelectrode.

Further, the electroluminescent fiber may include a core fiber, at leastthree first electrodes provided outside the core fiber and provided notin contact with each other, a red light emitter, a green light emitter,and blue light emitter each provided outside a corresponding one of theat least three first electrodes, a second electrode provided outsideeach of the red light emitter, the green light emitter, and the bluelight emitter, and a protective layer provided to cover the secondelectrode.

A method of changing a design of a smart garment according to thedisclosed embodiment includes: receiving, at a user terminal, a designof a smart garment including a color, an image, text, and combinationsthereof from a server; displaying the received design on the userterminal; and when the displayed design is selected, transmitting theselected design from the user terminal to the smart garment so that adesign of the smart garment is changed to the selected design.

Further, the method may further include: searching for a smart garmentin the user terminal; displaying a found smart garment in the userterminal; and when the displayed smart garment is selected, pairing thesmart garment with the user terminal in the user terminal.

Further, the receiving of the design may include: when the user terminaland the smart garment are paired, receiving, at the user terminal,identification information transmitted from the smart garment;transmitting, at the user terminal, the received identificationinformation to the server; and receiving, at the user terminal, a designof a smart garment transmitted from the server corresponding to theidentification information.

A smart garment according to the disclosed embodiments can change adesign element, such as a color, an image, or text, so that a user canchange a design of the smart garment to a desired design, regardless oftime and place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a system according to one illustratedembodiment.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a smartgarment according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a design of thesmart garment of a system according to the disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for changing a designof the smart garment according to the disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a design of asmart garment of a system according to another disclosed embodiment.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating a user interface for searchingfor and pairing with the smart garment displayed on a user terminalaccording to the disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for changing a designof the smart garment according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a design of asmart garment of a system according to still another disclosedembodiment, and FIGS.

FIGS. 11 to 16 are diagrams illustrating a user interface for changing adesign of the smart garment according to still another disclosedembodiment.

FIGS. 17a to 20e are diagrams illustrating cholesteric liquid crystalfibers among the color-changing fibers of the smart garment according tothe disclosed embodiment.

FIGS. 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b illustrate a connection structure of thecolor-changing fiber and the fabric of the smart garment according tothe disclosed embodiment.

FIGS. 23a and 23b are diagrams illustrating a structure of the fabric ofthe smart garment according to the disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship ofcolor-changing fibers and the connection module for control of thecolor-changing fibers of the smart garment according to the disclosedembodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating electronic ink fibers among thecolor-changing fibers of the smart garment according to the disclosedembodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an electrochromic fiber amongcolor-changing fibers of the smart garment according to the disclosedembodiment.

FIGS. 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d are diagrams illustratingelectroluminescent fibers among color-changing fibers of the smartgarment according to the disclosed embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, disclosed embodiments will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a system 10 according to one illustratedembodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating a configurationof a smart garment 400 according to one illustrated embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system 10 according to the illustratedembodiment includes the smart garment 400, a provider terminal 100configured to upload a design implementable on the smart garment 400 toa server 200, the server 200 configured to store the design uploaded bythe provider terminal 100, and a user terminal 300 configured todownload the design implementable on the smart garment 400 from theserver 200 and transmit the design to the smart garment 400.

The design of the smart garment 400 refers to a color, an image, text,or a combination thereof, which is displayable on the smart garment 400.

A provider of the smart garment 400, such as a seller or a businessoperator of the smart garment 400, may upload the design implementableon the smart garment 400 to the server 200 using the provider terminal100. In addition to the above-described garment provider, a separatedesign provider or purchaser may freely upload a design of the smartgarment 400 to the server 200.

The provider terminal 100 may include a computer capable ofcommunicating with the server 200 or a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet personal computer (PC). The devices are merelyexamples of the provider terminal 100, and any device may be included inthe range of the provider terminal 100 as long as the device is capableof communicating with the server 200.

The provider of the smart garment 400 uploads identification informationof the smart garment 400 on which the uploaded design can beimplemented, for example, a product number, a trademark, a size, amaterial, and the like, when the design is uploaded to the server 200 sothat a design that can be implemented on the smart garment 400 possessedby the purchaser can be easily retrieved.

The server 200 stores designs of the smart garment 400 uploaded fromvarious provider terminals 100 to build a database. The server 200 mayclassify and store designs by providers who have uploaded the designsand classify and store designs uploaded by the same provider accordingto the type of smart garment 400. A user may access the server 200through the user terminal 300 and download the design from the server200 after undergoing a predetermined authentication process.

When the user inputs the identification information of the smart garment400, for example, the product number, the trademark, the size, thematerial, and the like, through the user terminal 300 after undergoingthe authentication process, the user may download a design of the smartgarment 400 associated with the input identification information fromthe server 200 to the user terminal 300.

The user terminal 300 may include a computer capable of communicatingwith the server 200 or a mobile device such as a smart phone or a tabletPC. The devices are merely examples of the user terminal 300, and anydevice may be included in the range of the user terminal 300 as long asthe device is capable of communicating with the server 200. Morespecifically, the user terminal may include a communicator capable ofcommunicating with the server or the smart garment, a display configuredto display a user interface for changing a design of the smart garment,and a processor configured to generate a signal including a design ofthe smart garment and transmit the signal to the smart garment throughthe communicator when the design of the smart garment displayed on thedisplay is selected.

The user terminal 300 may serve as the provider terminal 100 when thedesign of the smart garment 400 is uploaded to the server 200 throughthe user terminal 300, and even the provider terminal 100 may serve asthe user terminal 300 when the provider terminal 100 downloads thedesign of the smart garment from the server 200.

The user terminal 300 transmits design information selected by the userfrom the design downloaded from the server 200 or a previously storeddesign to the smart garment 400.

The smart garment 400 includes a connection module 420 that may receivethe design information transmitted from the user terminal 300 and changethe design of the smart garment 400 based on the received information.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the connection module 420 of the smart garment400 receives the signal including design information transmitted fromthe user terminal 300, the smart garment 400 changes a color, displaysor changes text, or displays or changes a pattern according to thereceived signal. That is, the user may implement various designs on onesmart garment 400.

The connection module 420 of the smart garment 400 will be firstdescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and a method ofchanging a design of the smart garment 400 and a user interface of theuser terminal for changing a design of the smart garment 400 in thesystem according to one disclosed embodiment will be described in detailwith reference to FIGS. 4 to 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, the smart garment 400 includes the connectionmodule 420 configured to receive a signal transmitted from the userterminal 300. The connection module 420 may be provided at any positionon the smart garment 400. However, it is preferable for the connectionmodule 420 to be provided at an edge of the garment which is easilyconnected to the user terminal 300 through a wired connection whenconsidering the case of connecting to the user terminal 300 by wire.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection module 420 may include a communicator427 configured to perform wired/wireless communication with the userterminal 300, a processor 423 configured to generate a control signalfor changing a design of the smart garment 400 according to a signalreceived by the communicator 427, a driver 421 configured to apply avoltage to the smart garment 400 according to the control signalgenerated by the processor 423, a memory 425 configured to store designinformation included in the signal received by the communicator 427 orinformation related to a current design of the smart garment 400, and abattery configured to supply power to the smart garment 400.

The communicator 427 of the connection module 420 is connected to theuser terminal 300 through a communication scheme, such as a wirelesslocal area network (LAN), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, an ultra-wideband(UWB), infrared data association (IrDA), Bluetooth low energy (BLE),near field communication (NFC), and the like.

The driver 421 is connected to electrodes of color-changing fibersconstituting the smart garment 400, which will be described below, andapplies a voltage to the electrodes according to the signal generated bythe processor 423 so that the design of the smart garment 400 ischanged. Only one driver 421 may be provided or a plurality of drivers421 may be provided.

The memory 425 may include not only a volatile memory, such as a staticrandom access memory (S-RAM), a dynamic RAM (D-RAM), and the like, butalso a flash memory, such as a flash memory, a read only memory (ROM),an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection module 420 may include all or atleast one of the communicator 427, the processor 423, the driver 421,and the battery 429.

For example, the connection module 420 may include the communicator 427and the driver 421. In this case, the communicator 427 may receive thecontrol signal generated by the processor of the user terminal 300, andthe driver 421 may change the design of the smart garment 400 byapplying a voltage to the smart garment 400 according to the controlsignal received by the communicator 427.

Alternatively, the connection module 420 may include the communicator427, the processor 423, and the driver 421. In this case, when thecommunicator 427 receives the signal including the design informationtransmitted from the user terminal 300, the processor 423 generates thecontrol signal for controlling the driver 421 according to the signalreceived by the communicator 427 and outputs the control signal to thedriver 421. The driver 421 may change the design of the smart garment400 by applying a voltage to the smart garment 400 according to thecontrol signal output from the processor 423 of the connection module420.

Alternatively, the connection module may include the communicator 427,the processor 423, the driver 421, and the memory 425. In this case,when the communicator 427 receives the signal including the designinformation transmitted from the user terminal 300, the memory 425stores the design information included in the signal received by thecommunicator 427. Also, the memory 425 may store information related toa current design of the smart garment 400. In addition, the processor423 generates the control signal for controlling the driver 421according to the signal received by the communicator 427 and outputs thecontrol signal to the driver 421. The driver 421 may change the designof the smart garment 400 by applying the voltage to the smart garment400 according to the control signal output from the processor 423.

Alternatively, the connection module 420 may include the communicator427, the processor 423, the driver 421, the memory 425, and the battery429. When light emitting diodes are used as the color-changing fibersconstituting the smart garment 400, the battery 429 may be needed tosupply power to the light emitting didoes. In addition, when cholestericliquid crystals, electronic ink, or electrochromic devices havingbistability are used as fabrics constituting the smart garment 400, thebattery 429 may be omitted. Descriptions of the remaining configurationsare the same as the above descriptions, and thus will be omitted.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the connection module 420 of thesmart garment 400 according to the disclosed embodiment may include onlya connector 428 provided to be connected to the user terminal 300 by awire. When the user terminal 300 and the smart garment 400 are connectedby the connector 428, the processor of the user terminal 300 maygenerate a signal for implementing a design selected by the user on thesmart garment 400, and the driver 421 of the user terminal 300 may applya voltage for controlling the smart garment 400 through the connector428 according to the signal generated by the processor 423. When thesignal for controlling the smart garment 400 is applied from the userterminal 300 through the connector 428, the smart garment 400 may bechanged to the design selected by the user.

Meanwhile, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing adesign of the smart garment 400 of a system according to the disclosedembodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a user interface forchanging a design of the smart garment 400 according to the disclosedembodiment.

An application for changing a design of the smart garment 400 may beinstalled in the user terminal 300. The application may provide a userinterface related to pairing the smart garment 400 with the userterminal 300, changing a design of the smart garment 400, and the likethrough a display of the user terminal 300.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the application of the user terminal 300 isexecuted, the user terminal 300 searches for a nearby smart garment 400.The application may be executed by a command of a user, or may beautomatically executed when the nearby smart garment 400 is sensed. Anautorun function of the application may be changed through settings ofthe application.

The user terminal 300 searches for the smart garment 400 and transmits asignal to the nearby smart garment 400 to be paired with the smartgarment 400. When the nearby smart garment 400 receives the signaltransmitted from the user terminal 300 and transmits a signal inresponse to the received transmitted signal to the user terminal 300,the user terminal 300 and the smart garment 400 are paired. As describedabove, the pairing of the smart garment 400 and the user terminal 300may be performed through a communication scheme, such as a LAN, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, ZigBee, a UWB, IrDA, BLE, NFC, and the like.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a case in which one smart garment 400 is found.A case in which a plurality of nearby smart garments 400 are found willbe described below, and searching and pairing of the smart garment 400will be described below in detail. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when thereis one nearby smart garment 400, the user interface shown in FIG. 5 isdisplayed on the display of the user terminal 300 once the user terminal300 and the smart garment 400 are paired.

The user interface may include a garment display area 310 at an upperportion thereof where an image of the paired smart garment 400 isdisplayed, a color selection area 320 displayed below the garmentdisplay area 310 and provided to allow a color of the smart garment 400displayed in the garment display area 310 to be selected, an imageselection area 330 displayed below the color selection area 320 andprovided to allow an image to be implemented on the smart garment 400displayed in the garment display area 310 to be selected, and a textinput area 340 provided below the image selection area 330 and providedto allow text to be displayed on the smart garment 400 displayed in thegarment display area 310 to be input. Positions of the garment displayarea 310, the color selection area 320, the image selection area 330,and the text input area 340 are not limited to the above-describedpositions, and may be variously set. For example, the user may changethe positions as desired through application settings. The user mayselect a desired color or image or may input text through the userinterface, and the user terminal 300 transmits a signal includinginformation selected or input through the user interface to the smartgarment 400 so that the design of the smart garment 400 can be changed.The connection module 420 of the smart garment 400 according to thepresent embodiment may include at least the connector 428, as shown inFIG. 3, or at least the communicator 427 and the driver 421 among theconfiguration shown in FIG. 2.

The image of the smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area310 may be a representative image set as a default in association withthe paired smart garment 400. For example, when the paired smart garment400 is a short-sleeved t-shirt, a representative image that does notreflect a shape or the like of the paired short-sleeved t-shirt and isdesigned to allow the user to intuitively recognize that the smartgarment is a short-sleeved t-shirt may be displayed in the garmentdisplay area 310. According to another embodiment, an image similar tothe actual smart garment 400 reflecting a current design of the smartgarment 400 may be displayed in the garment display area 310, which willbe described below with reference to FIG. 6.

The color selection area 320 may be displayed in various colors in amatrix form, as shown in FIG. 5. The user may change the color of thesmart garment 400 by touching a desired color among the colors displayedin the color selection area 320 or by selecting the color through aseparate inputter, such as a keyboard or a mouse. Once the color isselected, the changed color may be reflected in the image of the smartgarment 400 displayed in the garment display area 310. A manner in whichcolors are displayed in the color selection area 320 is not limited tothe above-described example, and may be variously set. The user maychange a display format of the colors through the application setting,and may set frequently used colors to be preferentially displayed.

The image selection area 330 may display images including a pattern ordesign stored in advance in the user terminal 300 in association withthe paired smart garment 400, as shown in FIG. 5. Like the imageselection area 330 or the color selection area 320, various images maybe displayed in a matrix form. The user may change the image implementedon the smart garment 400 by touching a desired image among the imagesdisplayed in the image selection area 330, or by selecting the imagethrough a separate inputter, such as a keyboard or a mouse. Once theimage is selected, the changed image may be reflected in the image ofthe smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area 310.

As described above, in addition to the images stored in advance in theuser terminal 300 in association with the paired smart garment 400,images, such as photographs stored in the user terminal 300, may also bedisplayed in the image selection area 330. In addition, an object fordriving a camera may also be displayed to display an image directlycaptured by the camera of the user terminal 300 on the smart garment400. That is, when the user touches the object or clicks the objectthrough an inputter, the camera installed in the user terminal 300 isdriven so that the user can acquire a desired image by camera capturing.When camera capturing is performed, the captured image may be displayedon the smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area 310. Theuser may select an image displayed in the image selection area 330through application settings. That is, only the images stored in advancein the user terminal 300 in association with the paired smart garment400 may be set to be displayed, or only images such as photos stored inthe user terminal 300 may be displayed. In addition, only the object fordriving the camera may be set to be displayed so that the image directlycaptured by the camera of the user terminal 300 can be displayed on thesmart garment 400.

In the text input area 340, a representation, such as <text input>, forallowing the user to know that a corresponding area is provided for textinput may be displayed. Alternatively, the text input area 340 may bedisplayed as a blank space without a separate guide. When the usertouches the text input area 340 or clicks it through a separateinputter, the user terminal 300 displays a keyboard for text input toenable the user to input desired text. A detailed description thereofwill be given below. Text may be input through the keyboard or may beinput via voice. The user may input text through the keyboard or inputtext via voice by application settings. An icon for guiding a keyboardinput of text and an icon for guiding a voice input of text may bedisplayed in the text input area 340 so that the user can select adesired text input method by touching or clicking the icon for guidingthe desired text input method.

When text is input to the text input area 340, the input text may bedisplayed on the smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area310.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a design of asmart garment 400 of a system according to another disclosed embodiment,FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating a user interface for searchingfor and pairing with the smart garment 400 displayed on a user terminal300 according to the disclosed embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a diagramillustrating a user interface for changing a design of the smart garment400 according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, when an application of the user terminal 300 isexecuted, the user terminal 300 searches for a nearby smart garment 400.The application may be executed by a command of a user, or may beautomatically executed when the nearby smart garment 400 is sensed. Anautorun function of the application may be changed through settings ofthe application.

The user terminal 300 searches for the smart garment 400 and transmits asignal to the nearby smart garment 400 to be paired with the smartgarment 400. When the nearby smart garment 400 receives the signaltransmitted from the user terminal 300 and transmits a signal inresponse to the received transmitted signal to the user terminal 300,the user terminal 300 and the smart garment 400 are paired.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the user terminal 300 may provide the userinterface for searching for the smart garment 400 and pairing with thefound smart garment 400. As shown in FIG. 7, the user interface maydisplay a garment display area 311, a search button for searching forthe nearby smart garment 400 below the garment display area 311, and apairing button 314 for pairing with the found smart garment 400 in adisplay of the user terminal 300. Positions of the garment display area311, the search button 312, and the pairing button 314 are not limitedto the above-described positions, and may be variously set. For example,the user may change the positions as desired through applicationsettings.

When the user touches or clicks the search button 312 to search for thenearby smart garment 400, as shown in FIG. 7, an image of a magnifyingglass may be displayed in the garment display area 311 so that the usercan intuitively recognize that the nearby smart garment 400 is beingsearched for.

When the nearby smart garment 400 is found, images of the found smartgarments 400 may be displayed in a matrix form in the garment displayarea 311, as shown in FIG. 8. The user may select the smart garment 400desired to be paired with among the smart garments 400 displayed in thegarment display area 311 by touching or clicking the desired smartgarment 400, and may pair the selected smart garment 400 with the userterminal 300 by touching or clicking the pairing button 314.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the smart garment 400 and the user terminal 300are paired, the smart garment 400 extracts a current color thereof and acurrent image or text implemented on the smart garment 400 and transmitsthem to the user terminal 300. The connection module 420 of the smartgarment 400 according to the present embodiment may include at least thecommunicator 427, the processor 423, the driver 421, and the memory 425,and design information of the current smart garment 400 may be stored inthe memory 425.

The user terminal 300 may display an image similar to the actual smartgarment 400 reflecting the current design of the paired smart garment400 or the like in the garment display area 310 on the basis ofinformation transmitted from the smart garment 400. For example, asshown in FIG. 9, the user terminal 300 may display an image including acolor of the paired smart garment 400 and a pattern or designimplemented on the smart garment 400, or, when text is implemented, animage reflecting the text in the garment display area 310. A descriptionof the other user interface shown in FIG. 9 is the same as that shown inFIG. 5, and thus will be omitted.

The user may select a desired color or image or input text through theuser interface, and the user terminal 300 may transmit a signalincluding the information selected or input through the user interfaceto the smart garment 400 so that the design of the smart garment 400 canbe changed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a design of asmart garment 400 of a system according to still another disclosedembodiment, and FIGS. 11 to 16 are diagrams illustrating a userinterface for changing a design of the smart garment 400 according tostill another disclosed embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, when an application of the user terminal 300 isexecuted, the user terminal 300 searches for a nearby smart garment 400.The application may be executed by a command of a user, or may beautomatically executed when the nearby smart garment 400 is sensed. Anautorun function of the application may be changed through settings ofthe application.

The user terminal 300 searches for the smart garment 400 and transmits asignal to the nearby smart garment 400 to be paired with the smartgarment 400. When the nearby smart garment 400 receives the signaltransmitted from the user terminal 300 and transmits a signal inresponse to the received transmitted signal to the user terminal 300,the user terminal 300 and the smart garment 400 are paired.

A description of paring of the user terminal 300 and the smart garment400 is the same as the description of FIGS. 6 to 8, and thus will beomitted.

When the connection module 420 of the smart garment 400 is paired withthe user terminal 300, the connection module 420 transmitsidentification information of the smart garment 400 to the user terminal300 and the user terminal 300 transmits the identification informationof the smart garment 400 transmitted from the smart garment 400 to theserver 200. The connection module 420 of the smart garment 400 accordingto the present embodiment may include at least the communicator 427, theprocessor 423, the driver 421, and the memory 425, and designinformation or identification information of the current smart garment400 may be stored in the memory 425.

The server 200 searches for a design of the smart garment 400represented by the identification information on the basis of theidentification information of the smart garment 400 transmitted from theuser terminal 300 and transmits found design information to the userterminal 300. The user terminal 300 downloads the design of the pairedsmart garment 400 from the server 200 and displays the downloaded designin the color selection area 320 and the image selection area 330 of theuser interface shown in FIG. 11. Text implementable on the smart garment400 may also be displayed as an image in the image selection area 330.

The user may select a desired color or image or input text through theuser interface, and the user terminal 300 may transmit a signalincluding the information selected or input through the user interfaceto the smart garment 400 so that the design of the smart garment 400 canbe changed.

A method of changing a design of the paired smart garment 400 throughthe user interface provided by the user terminal 300 will be describedin detail with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a user interface of the user terminal 300is similar to the user interface shown in FIG. 5. The user interfaceshown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is different from the user interface shown inFIG. 5 in that an interface for changing the smart garment 400 displayedin the garment display area 310 to another found smart garment 400 andan interface 315 provided for a user to recognize that the smart garment400 displayed in the garment display area 310 is a paired garment whenthe smart garment 400 is paired with the user terminal 300 are furtherdisplayed in the garment display area 310.

When the user intends to change the smart garment 400 displayed in thegarment display area 310 to another found smart garment 400, as shown inFIG. 12, the user may touch or click the interface for changing thesmart garment 400. Alternatively, the user may input a drag gesture or aflick gesture among touch gestures to the garment display area 310 tochange the smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area 310to another smart garment 400.

When the smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area 310 ischanged, the color selection area 320, the image selection area 330, andthe text input area 340 are changed to suit the changed smart garment400. For example, when the changed smart garment 400 does not supporttext input, a representation that conveys a meaning that text input isnot possible, for example, <none>, is displayed in the text input area340, as shown in FIG. 12.

Also, as shown in FIG. 12, when the changed smart garment 400 is a smartgarment that is not paired with the user terminal 300, the user terminal300 does not display the interface indicating the pairing. In addition,when the smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area 310 ischanged to the paired smart garment 400, the user terminal 300 displaysan interface indicating that the displayed smart garment 400 is pairedwith the user terminal 300.

Meanwhile, when the user intends to implement an image on the pairedsmart garment 400 or change an existing image, the user may change theimage of the smart garment 400 by touching or clicking the image,pattern, or design displayed in the image selection area 330. As shownin FIG. 13, an object for selecting photographs stored in the userterminal 300 may be displayed in the image selection area 330 inaddition to the images transmitted from the server 200.

As shown in FIG. 13, when an object allowing for connection to theimages stored in the user terminal 300 is touched or clicked, the imagesstored in the user terminal 300 may be displayed in a matrix form belowthe garment display area. In addition, an area 316 in which an image canbe displayed is displayed in a rectangular shape on the smart garment400 displayed in the garment display area 310 so that the user canrecognize where the image selected by the user is displayed on the smartgarment 400. The user may change a shape, size, or position of the areadisplayed on the smart garment 400 in the garment display area 310.

As shown in FIG. 13, when an image representing a flower is selectedthrough a touch or click, the selected image is displayed on the smartgarment 400 displayed in the garment display area 310. In addition, theuser terminal 300 transmits a signal including information forimplementing the selected image on the smart garment 400 to the smartgarment 400 so that the selected image is displayed on the smart garment400. As shown in FIG. 13, when the image is selected, the user terminal300 may directly forward the signal for implementing the image to thesmart garment 400, or may display a message requesting confirmation ofthe application of the selected image and forward the signal forimplementing the image to the smart garment 400 when a confirmationcommand is input.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, an object for driving the camera mayalso be displayed in the image selection area 330 so that an imagedirectly captured by the camera of the user terminal 300 can bedisplayed on the smart garment 400.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the object for driving the camera of the userterminal 300 is touched or clicked, a camera installed in the userterminal 300 is driven so that the user can acquire a desired imagethrough camera capturing. Once camera capturing is performed, a capturedimage may be displayed on the smart garment 400 displayed in the garmentdisplay area 310. The user may adjust a position or size of the capturedimage by changing a shape, size, or position of the image display areadisplayed on the smart garment 400. When the above adjustment iscomplete, the user terminal 300 transmits a signal including informationfor implementing the captured image on the smart garment 400 to thesmart garment 400 so that the captured image is displayed on the smartgarment 400. As shown in FIG. 16, when an image is captured andadjustment of a size or position of the image is complete, the userterminal 300′ may directly forward a signal for implementing thecaptured image on the smart garment 400, or may display a messagerequesting confirmation of application of the captured image and thenforward the signal for implementing the image to the smart garment 400when a confirmation command is received.

Meanwhile, the user may input text through the text input area 340 whenthe user intends to display text on the paired smart garment 400 orchange existing text.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the text input area 340, a representation, suchas <text input>, may be displayed that allows the user to know that acorresponding area is provided for text input. Alternatively, the textinput area 340 may be displayed as a blank space without a separateguide.

When the user touches the text input area 340 or clicks the text inputarea 340 through a separate inputter, the user terminal 300 displays anarea provided for selecting a color of text and a keyboard for inputtingtext, as shown in FIG. 15, so that the user can input text of a desiredcolor. In addition, an area 341 in which text can be displayed isdisplayed in a rectangular shape on the smart garment 400 displayed inthe garment display area 310 so that the user can recognize where theimage selected by the user is displayed on the smart garment 400. Theuser may change a shape, size, or position of the text display areadisplayed on the smart garment 400 in the garment display area 310.

In addition, although not illustrated in the drawings, a user interfacefor selecting a text font may be further displayed to allow the user toselect a desired font.

When text is input and a color and font of the input text are selected,the input text is displayed on the smart garment 400 displayed in thegarment display area 310. Also, the user terminal 300 transmits a signalincluding information for implementing the input text on the smartgarment 400 to the smart garment 400 so that the input text can bedisplayed on the smart garment 400. As shown in FIG. 15, when text isinput, the user terminal 300 may directly forward a signal fordisplaying the text to the smart garment 400, or may display a messagerequesting confirmation of application of the input text and thenforward the signal for displaying the text to the smart garment 400 whena confirmation command is input.

Further, the text may be input through a keyboard or input via voice.The user may input text through the keyboard or via voice by applicationsettings. An icon for guiding keyboard input of text and an icon forguiding voice input of text may be displayed in the text input area 340so that the user can select a desired text input method by touching orclicking the icon for guiding the desired text input method. When theicon for guiding keyboard input is selected, the user interface shown inFIG. 15 may be displayed.

When text is input to the text input area 341, the input text may bedisplayed on the smart garment 400 displayed in the garment display area310.

As described above, the design of the smart garment 400 may be changedthrough the user interface provided by the user terminal 300, or theuser terminal 300 may sense information of the surrounding environmentand automatically change the design of the smart garment 400, which willbe described with reference to FIG. 16.

As shown in FIG. 16, the user terminal 300 may recognize a position ofthe user terminal 300 or detect a surrounding temperature or weatherusing a sensor mounted on the user terminal 300 or by utilizing Internetinformation or the like. The position, temperature, and weather areexamples of environment information that the user terminal 300 candetect, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, when a current position recognized by the user terminal 300is a baseball field, the user terminal 300 may transmit a signal to thesmart garment 400 such that a symbol of a team playing a game at thebaseball field can be implemented on the smart garment 400. The smartgarment 400 may display the symbol of the team according to the signaltransmitted from the user terminal 300.

When a current temperature sensed by the user terminal 300 is more than30° C., the user terminal 300 may transmit a signal for changing a colorof the current smart garment 400 to white to the smart garment 400. Thesmart garment 400 may change the color thereof to white according to thesignal transmitted from the user terminal 300. When the color of thecurrent smart garment 400 is already white, the smart garment 400 maynot change the color.

In addition, when a current weather detected by the user terminal 300 israiny weather, the user terminal 300 may transmit a signal for changinga pattern, a design, or an image currently displayed on the smartgarment 400 to a raindrop image, design, or pattern to the smart garment400. The smart garment 400 may change the current pattern, design, orimage thereof to the raindrop pattern, design, or image according to thesignal transmitted from the user terminal 300.

An application may provide a surrounding environment recognition modethat provides the above-described functions, and the user may activatethe surrounding environment recognition mode to automatically cause theuser terminal 300 to change the design of the smart garment 400.Alternatively, the surrounding environment recognition mode may beusually turned off and optionally activated in a desired situation.

Meanwhile, the smart garment 400 according to the disclosed embodimentincludes a fabric including color-changing fibers and ordinary fibers,which are materials for changing an image, text, or color according to asignal transmitted from the user terminal 300, and the above-describedconnection module 420. Hereinafter, the color-changing fibersconstituting the smart garment 400 will be described in detail.

FIGS. 17 to 20 are diagrams illustrating cholesteric liquid crystalfibers among the color-changing fibers of the smart garment 400according to the disclosed embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 17A, cholesteric liquid crystal fiber 419 may have acircular or polygonal cross-section. As shown in FIG. 17A, thecholesteric liquid crystal fiber has a cholesteric liquid crystal 415provided at the center of the fiber, a first electrode 412 a formed on apart of an outer surface of the cholesteric liquid crystal, a secondelectrode 412 b formed at an opposite surface of the first electrode, aninsulator 413 provided between the first electrode and the secondelectrode, and a protective layer 411 covering the first electrode, thesecond electrode, and the insulator.

Cholesteric liquid crystals have bistability such that the cholestericliquid crystals may be present in two stable states, such as a planarstate in which light is reflected even when no voltage is applied to thecholesteric liquid crystals and a focal conic state in which light isscattered. The cholesteric liquid crystals may be converted into ahomeotropic state in which light can be transmitted when a high voltageis applied thereto. Thus, when the design of the smart garment 400 ischanged by the user terminal 300, the changed design may be maintainedwithout the application of voltage.

An inner electrode and an outer electrode may be transparent electrodesmade of a transparent conductive material, and examples of thetransparent conductive material may include indium tin oxide (ITO),indium zinc oxide (IZO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZAO), a silvernano-wire (AgNW), and the like.

The protective layer covering the first electrode, the second electrode,and the insulator may be formed by coating ordinary textile fibers orfibers in a mesh form. By using ordinary textile fibers as theprotective layer, a texture of ordinary textile fibers may be impartedto the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber.

The first electrode and the second electrode may be connected to thedriver 421 of the connection module 420, and the driver 421 may changethe design of the smart garment 400 by applying a voltage to the firstelectrode and the second electrode according to a control signal of theprocessor 423.

As shown in FIG. 17B, the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber may include apartition wall 416 for maintaining a shape of the fiber in thecholesteric liquid crystals. The partition wall may be formed by apolymer structure. In addition, as shown in FIG. 17C, the cholestericliquid crystal fiber may be provided to have a polygonal cross-section,such as a quadrangular cross-section.

As shown in FIG. 18, the above-described cholesteric liquid crystalfiber may be combined with an ordinary textile fiber 490 to form acolor-changing fiber constituting the smart garment 400. As shown inFIG. 18, the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber and the ordinary textilefiber may be formed to have a twisted structure. A fabric of the smartgarment 400 according to the disclosed embodiment may be formed byweaving color-changing fibers having a twisted form of cholestericliquid crystal fibers and textile fibers.

In the case of the fabric woven with the color-changing fibers of thestructure shown in FIG. 18, the above-described first electrode andsecond electrode may not be formed on the cholesteric liquid crystalfiber, but the first electrode and the second electrode may be formed onone surface of the woven fabric and an opposite surface thereof.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the fabric of the smartgarment 400 may be formed by weaving the cholesteric liquid crystalfibers 430 and the ordinary textile fibers 422 in the form of a net.According to the present embodiment, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG.18, the fabric is formed by weaving the cholesteric liquid crystalfibers and the textile fibers in the form of a net without weaving thefabric using color-changing fibers having a twisted structure ofcholesteric liquid crystal fibers and textile fibers.

FIG. 20A illustrates a structure of pixels P of a cholesteric liquidcrystal fiber according to the disclosed embodiment. Referring to FIG.20A, the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber may have a structure in whichred pixels reflecting one color of light, for example, red light, arearranged in a single layer. In this case, since one cholesteric liquidcrystal fiber reflects one color, cholesteric liquid crystal fibersarranged in adjacent columns or in adjacent rows in the form shown inFIG. 19 may be provided to reflect different colors.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 20B, one pixel P constituting thecholesteric liquid crystal fiber may have a structure in which a redsub-cell 431 reflecting a wavelength band corresponding to red light, agreen sub-cell 432 reflecting a wavelength band corresponding to greenlight, and a blue sub-cell 433 reflecting a wavelength bandcorresponding to blue light are stacked atop one another.

As shown in FIG. 20B, one pixel may have a stacked structure, or, asshown in FIGS. 20C and 20D, one pixel may have a structure in which ared sub-cell reflecting a wavelength band corresponding to red light, agreen sub-cell reflecting a wavelength band corresponding to greenlight, and a blue sub-cell reflecting a wavelength band corresponding toblue light are arranged in a single layer.

As shown in FIGS. 20C and 20D, a grid 434 that separates each ofsub-cells constituting one pixel may be implemented by an ordinarytextile fiber material so that cholesteric liquid crystal fibers mayhave a texture of textile fibers. The grid may be formed to have aheight higher than the cholesteric liquid crystals, as shown in FIG.20C, or may be formed at the same height as the cholesteric liquidcrystals, as shown in FIG. 20D.

As shown in FIG. 20E, even when one pixel has a stacked structure, agrid separating each sub-cell may be implemented by an ordinary textilefiber material so that cholesteric liquid crystal fibers may have atexture of textile fibers.

Meanwhile, when the smart garment 400, for example, a T-shirt, is made,it is necessary to connect fabrics of a sleeve portion and a bodyportion. This connection may be made at a cholesteric liquid crystalfiber level or at a fabric level formed by cholesteric liquid crystalfibers. FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate a connection structure of thecolor-changing fiber and the fabric of the smart garment 400 accordingto the disclosed embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 21A, since the cholesteric liquid crystal fiberincludes the first electrode and the second electrode to which a voltageis applied, as described above, when cholesteric liquid crystal fibers419 are connected to each other, electrodes of the same polarity shouldbe electrically connected. That is, first electrodes of the cholestericliquid crystal fibers to be connected should be electrically connectedto each other, and second electrodes should be electrically connected toeach other. As shown in FIG. 21B, a connection portion 440 of thecholesteric liquid crystal fiber may include a first connectionelectrode 440 a which electrically connects the first electrodes 412 aof the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, a second connection electrode440 b which electrically connects the second electrodes 412 b of thecholesteric liquid crystal fibers, and an insulator provided between thefirst connection electrode and the second connection electrode.Additionally, an outer protective layer which may protect the connectionportion may further included. A cross-section of the connection portionmay be formed to be circular when a cross-section of the cholestericliquid crystal fiber is circular, and the cross-section of theconnection portion may be formed to be polygonal corresponding to thecross-section of the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber when thecross-section of the cholesteric liquid crystal fiber is polygonal.

In the case of the fabric woven with the color-changing fibers having atwisted structure shown in FIG. 18, the first electrode and the secondelectrode are formed in the woven fabric, as described above. In thiscase, as shown in FIG. 22A, first electrodes of fabrics 450 to beconnected should be electrically connected to each other, and secondelectrodes should be electrically connected to each other. As shown inFIG. 22A, a connection portion 455 of the fabric may include a firstconnection electrode 455 a which connects the first electrodes 450 aformed on top surfaces of the fabrics to be connected and a secondconnection electrode 455 b which connects the second electrodes 450 bformed on bottom surfaces of the fabrics to be connected. FIG. 22Aillustrates a cross-section of the fabrics to be connected and theconnection portion which connects the fabrics, and FIG. 22B illustratesthe top surface. In FIG. 22B, outer electrodes illustrated by solidlines are the first connection electrodes and outer electrodesillustrated by dotted lines are the second connection electrodes.

As described above, the fabric of the smart garment 400 may be formedusing the color-changing fibers having the twisted structure shown inFIG. 18, or may be formed by weaving cholesteric liquid crystal fibersand ordinary textile fibers in the form of a net as shown in FIG. 19. Asanother method, as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, a flexible cholestericliquid crystal in the form of a film may be used. FIG. 23A is a diagramillustrating a structure of the fabric of the smart garment 400according to the disclosed embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 23A, the flexible cholesteric liquid crystal 460 may beformed into a net shape by forming holes in the form of a matrix in theflexible cholesteric liquid crystal and inserting an ordinary textilefiber 455 into a net eye, i.e., the hole, such that the fabric of thesmart garment 400 is formed. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 23B,textile fibers may be formed into a net shape by forming holes in theform of a matrix in the ordinary textile fibers and combining theflexible cholesteric liquid crystal 460 into a net eye, i.e., the hole,such that the fabric of the smart garment 400 is formed.

The cholesteric liquid crystal illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B mayinclude pixels of a stacked structure or pixels of a single layerstructure, as described above. The cholesteric liquid crystals of FIG.23A may be individually controlled for each line, and the cholestericliquid crystals of FIG. 23B may also be individually controlled for eachcholesteric liquid crystal forming the net eye.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship ofcolor-changing fibers and the connection module 420 for control of thecolor-changing fibers of the smart garment 400 according to thedisclosed embodiment. As shown in FIG. 24, one of a first electrode 430a-1 and a second electrode 430 a-2 of a cholesteric liquid crystal fiber430 a as a first material and a cholesteric liquid crystal fiber 430 bas a second material that constitute a fabric may perform a role of asignal electrode, and the other may perform a role of a groundelectrode. In the same manner, one of a third electrode 430 b-1 and afourth electrode 430 b-2 may perform a role of a signal electrode, andthe other may perform a role of a ground electrode. Since both the firstmaterial and the second material are cholesteric liquid crystal fibers,which are color-changing fibers, and the first electrode, the secondelectrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode perform thesame function, the first electrode and the second electrode will bedescribed as an example. For example, when the first electrode is thesignal electrode and the second electrode is the ground electrode, thefirst electrodes of the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers areelectrically connected to a signal terminal of the driver 421 of theconnection module 420, and the second electrodes are electricallyconnected to a ground terminal of the driver 421 of the connectionmodule 420. All the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers may be connectedto one connection module 420, or the cholesteric liquid crystal fibersmay be controlled using a plurality of connection modules 420.

The cholesteric liquid crystal fiber has been described above as anexample of the color-changing fiber for changing a design of the smartgarment 400. Hereinafter, other embodiments of the color-changing fiberwill be described.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating electronic ink fibers among thecolor-changing fibers of the smart garment 400 according to thedisclosed embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 25, the electronic ink fabric may include a pluralityof electronic ink capsules 470 containing electronic ink, a firstelectrode 470 a formed on one surface of the electronic ink capsule, asecond electrode 470 b formed on an opposite surface of the firstelectrode, and an insulator (not shown) provided between the firstelectrode and the second electrode. In addition, although notillustrated in the drawings, a protective layer covering the firstelectrode, the second electrode, and the insulator may be furtherincluded.

The electronic ink capsules may contain at least one of a red electronicink reflecting red light, a green electronic ink reflecting green light,a blue electronic ink reflecting blue light, a black electronic ink thatabsorbs light, and a white electronic ink that reflects light. Forexample, the red electronic ink, the black electronic ink, and the whiteelectronic ink may be contained in one capsule, the green electronicink, the black electronic ink, and the white electronic ink may becontained in one capsule, and the blue electronic ink, the blackelectronic ink, and the white electronic ink may be contained in onecapsule.

An inner electrode and an outer electrode may be transparent electrodesmade of a transparent conductive material, and examples of thetransparent conductive material may include ITO, IZO, aluminum-dopedZAO, AgNW, and the like.

The protective layer covering the first electrode, the second electrode,and the insulator may be formed by coating ordinary textile fibers orfibers in a mesh form. By using ordinary textile fibers as theprotective layer, a texture of the ordinary textile fibers may beimparted to the electronic ink fiber. The first electrode and the secondelectrode may be connected to the driver 421 of the connection module420, and the driver 421 may change the design of the smart garment 400by applying a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrodeaccording to the control signal of the processor 423.

The fabric of the smart garment 400 according to the present embodimentmay be formed by color-changing fibers having a twisted structure of theelectronic ink fibers and the ordinary textile fibers, as in theembodiment using the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, or may be formedby weaving the electronic ink fibers and the ordinary textile fibers inthe form of a net. In the case of the fabric woven with thecolor-changing fibers having the twisted structure of the electronic inkfibers and the ordinary textile fibers, the above-described firstelectrode and second electrode may not be formed on the electronic inkfiber, but the first electrode and the second electrode may be formed onone surface of the woven fabric and an opposite surface.

Since the electronic ink also has bistability like the above-describedcholesteric liquid crystal, power required for changing a design of thesmart garment 400 may be minimized.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an electrochromic fiber amongcolor-changing fibers of the smart garment 400 according to thedisclosed embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 26, the electrochromic fiber 480 may include a firstelectrode 482, a counter electrode 489 provided outside the firstelectrode, an electrolyte 487 provided outside the counter electrode, aworking electrode 485 provided outside the electrolyte, a secondelectrode 483 provided outside the working electrode, and a protectivelayer 481 provided to cover the second electrode. In addition, althoughnot illustrated in the drawings, a partition wall for maintaining ashape of the fiber may be provided inside the electrochromic fiber. Inthe present embodiment, since the first electrode will be referred to asan inner electrode since it is provided inside the fiber, and the secondelectrode will be referred to as an outer electrode.

The inner electrode and the outer electrode may be transparentelectrodes made of a transparent conductive material to which a voltageis applied from the driver 421 of the connection module 420. Examples ofthe transparent conductive material may include ITO, IZO, aluminum-dopedZAO, AgNW, and the like.

The electrolyte may be a solid electrolyte or a liquid electrolyte,which is ionized and supplies a charge or ion to the inner electrode andthe outer electrode when a voltage is applied thereto.

At least one of the working electrode and the counter electrode includesa color-changing material. For example, the working electrode mayinclude a material that changes color as it is reduced, and the counterelectrode may include a material that changes color as it is oxidized.Both the working electrode and the counter electrode may include theabove-described color-changing material, or only one of the working andcounter electrodes may include the above-described color-changingmaterial while the other may include an ion-receiving electrode.

Typical reducing color-changing materials include WO3 and MoO3 TiO2, andoxidative color-changing materials include Ir(OH)x, Ni(OH)2, and Rh2O3.The electrochromic fiber may realize different red colors, green colors,and blue colors and combinations thereof in the color-changing material,and may be changed to a transparent state. The protective layer may beformed by coating ordinary textile fibers or fibers in a mesh form. Byusing ordinary textile fibers as the protective layer, a texture of theordinary textile fiber may be imparted to the electrochromic fiber. Theinner electrode and the outer electrode may be connected to the driver421 of the connection module 420, and the driver 421 may change thedesign of the smart garment 400 by applying a voltage to the firstelectrode and the second electrode according to a control signal of theprocessor 423.

A fabric of the smart garment 400 according to the present embodimentmay be formed by mixing electrochromic fibers and ordinary textilefibers, as in the embodiment using the cholesteric liquid crystalfabric. Since the electrochromic material also has bistability like theabove-described cholesteric liquid crystal, power required for changinga design of the smart garment 400 may be minimized.

FIGS. 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D, and 27E are diagrams illustratingelectroluminescent fibers among color-changing fibers of the smartgarment 400 according to the disclosed embodiment.

The above-described cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, electronic inkfibers, and electrochromic fibers are reflective fibers, andelectroluminescent fibers 490 shown in FIG. 27A are self-luminescentfibers. Thus, when a fabric of the smart garment 400 is formed using theelectroluminescent fibers, the connection module 420 of the smartgarment 400 includes the battery 429.

As shown in FIG. 27A, the electroluminescent fibers may include a firstelectrode 497, a luminescent material 495 provided outside the firstelectrode, a second electrode 493 provided outside the luminescentmaterial, and a protective layer 491 covering the second electrode 493.Each of the electroluminescent fibers may use a luminescent materialthat emits red, green, or blue light, and fibers using these differentluminescent materials may be woven together with ordinary textile fibersto form the fabric of the smart garment 400.

In the present embodiment, the first electrode will be referred to as aninner electrode since it is provided inside the fiber, and the secondelectrode will be referred to as an outer electrode.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27B, a material that emits whitelight is used as the luminescent material, and color filters 492 a, 492b, and 492 c, which transmit red light, green light, and blue light,respectively, may be attached to outer surfaces of the outer electrodesto form the electroluminescent fiber. At this time, as shown in FIG.27B, the outer electrodes are spaced apart from each other, and theaforementioned color filters are attached respectively to the outerelectrodes provided at a distance from each other. In this case, each ofthe outer electrodes may be individually controlled by the driver 421 ofthe connection module 420. A partition wall 496 for maintaining a shapeof the fiber may be provided inside the luminescent material.

In still another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27C, materials 495 a, 495b, and 495 c that emit red light, green light, and blue light,respectively, are used as the luminescent material, and an outerelectrode is provided outside each of the materials to form theelectroluminescent fiber. At this time, as shown in FIG. 27C, the outerelectrodes may be spaced apart from each other, and may be individuallycontrolled by the driver 421 of the connection module 420.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27D, a core of theelectroluminescent fiber is formed by an organic textile fiber 494, andthree inner electrodes spaced apart from each other are formed outsidethe textile fiber. In addition, materials 495 a, 495 b, and 495 c, whichemit red light, green light, and blue light, respectively, may beprovided as luminescent materials formed outside of the innerelectrodes, and outer electrodes may be provided respectively outside ofthe materials to form the electroluminescent fiber. In the presentembodiment, inner and outer electrodes that apply voltages to differentluminescent materials may be individually controlled by the driver 421of the connection module 420.

The inner electrode and the outer electrode are transparent electrodesmade of a transparent conductive material. Examples of the transparentconductive material may include ITO, IZO, aluminum-doped ZAO, AgNW, andthe like. The inner electrode and the outer electrode may be formed in aplanar shape or in a linear shape.

A protective layer may be formed by coating ordinary textile fibers orfibers in a mesh form. By using ordinary textile fibers as theprotective layer, a texture of the ordinary textile fibers may beimparted to the electroluminescent fiber. As described above, the innerelectrode and the outer electrode may be connected to the driver 421 ofthe connection module 420, and the driver 421 may change the design ofthe smart garment 400 by applying a voltage to the inner electrode andthe outer electrode according to the control signal of the processor423.

The fabric of the smart garment 400 according to the present embodimentmay be formed by mixing the electrochromic fibers and the ordinarytextile fibers, as in the embodiment using the cholesteric liquidcrystal fibers.

What is claimed is:
 1. A smart garment comprising: a first material comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; a second material comprising a third electrode and a fourth electrode; and a connection module comprising a first ground terminal configured to ground one of the first electrode and the second electrode in response to a signal transmitted by a user terminal, a first signal terminal applying a voltage to another one of the first electrode and the second electrode, a second ground terminal configured to ground one of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, and a second signal terminal applying a voltage to another one of the third electrode and the fourth electrode.
 2. The smart garment of claim 1, wherein the first material and the second material comprises cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, and wherein each of the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal, a first cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrode provided at one side of the cholesteric liquid crystal, a second cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrode provided at a side opposite the first cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrode, an insulator provided between the first cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrode and the second cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrode, and a protective layer provided to cover the first cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrode, the second cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrode, and the insulator.
 3. The smart garment of claim 2, further comprising a connection portion provided to connect the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers so as to extend the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, and wherein the connection portion comprises a first connection electrode provided to connect the first cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrodes of the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, a second connection electrode provided to connect the second cholesteric liquid crystal fiber electrodes of the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers, and an insulator provided between the first connection electrode and the second connection electrode.
 4. The smart garment of claim 2, the cholesteric liquid crystal comprises a partition wall provided to maintain a shape of the cholesteric liquid crystal fibers.
 5. The smart garment of claim 2, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal comprises a pixel including at least one of a red sub-cell configured to reflect red light, a green sub-cell configured to reflect green light, or a blue sub-cell configured to reflect blue light, and wherein the pixel is provided so that the red sub-cell, the green sub-cell, and the blue sub-cell are formed to be coplanar or the red sub-cell, the green sub-cell, and the blue sub-cell are formed to have a stacked structure.
 6. The smart garment of claim 5, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal comprises a grid provided to separate the red sub-cell, the green sub-cell, and the blue sub-cell, and wherein the grid comprises textile fibers.
 7. The smart garment of claim 1, wherein the first material and the second material comprises electronic ink fibers, and wherein the electronic ink fiber comprises a plurality of electronic ink capsules including an electronic ink, a first electronic ink fiber electrode provided at one side of the electronic ink capsules, a second electronic ink fiber electrode provided at a side opposite the first electronic ink fiber electrode, an insulator provided between the first electronic ink fiber electrode and the second electronic ink fiber electrode, and a protective layer provided to cover the first electronic ink fiber electrode, the second electronic ink fiber electrode, and the insulator.
 8. The smart garment of claim 7, wherein each of the electronic ink capsules comprises at least one electronic ink among a red electronic ink configured to reflect red light, a green electronic ink configured to reflect green light, and a blue electronic ink configured to reflect blue light, a black electronic ink configured to absorb light, and a white electronic ink configured to reflect light.
 9. The smart garment of claim 1, wherein the first material and the second material comprises electrochromic fibers, and wherein the electrochromic fibers comprise a first electrochromic fiber electrode, a counter electrode provided outside the first electrochromic fiber electrode, an electrolyte provided outside the counter electrode, a working electrode provided outside the electrolyte, a second electrochromic fiber electrode provided outside the working electrode, and a protective layer provided to cover the second electrochromic fiber electrode.
 10. The smart garment of claim 9, wherein at least one of the counter electrode or the working electrode comprises a color-changing material.
 11. The smart garment of claim 1, wherein the first material and the second material comprises electroluminescent fibers.
 12. The smart garment of claim 11, wherein the electroluminescent fibers comprise a first electroluminescent fiber electrode, a light emitter provided outside the first electroluminescent fiber electrode, a second electroluminescent fiber electrode provided outside the light emitter, and a protective layer provided to cover the second electroluminescent fiber electrode.
 13. The smart garment of claim 11, wherein the electroluminescent fibers comprise a first electroluminescent fiber electrode, a light emitter provided outside the first electroluminescent fiber electrode, at least three second electroluminescent fiber electrodes provided outside the light emitter and provided not in contact with each other, a red color filter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter which are each provided outside a corresponding one of the at least three second electroluminescent fiber electrodes, and a protective layer provided to cover the red color filter, the green color filter, and the blue color filter.
 14. The smart garment of claim 11, wherein the electroluminescent fibers comprise a first electroluminescent fiber electrode, a red light emitter, a green light emitter, and a blue light emitter provided outside the first electroluminescent fiber electrode, a second electroluminescent fiber electrode provided outside each of the red light emitter, the green light emitter, and the blue light emitter, and a protective layer provided to cover the second electroluminescent fiber electrode.
 15. The smart garment of claim 11, wherein the electroluminescent fibers comprise a core fiber, at least three first electroluminescent fiber electrodes provided outside the core fiber and provided not in contact with each other, a red light emitter, a green light emitter, and blue light emitter each provided outside a corresponding one of the at least three first electroluminescent fiber electrodes, a second electroluminescent fiber electrode provided outside each of the red light emitter, the green light emitter, and the blue light emitter, and a protective layer provided to cover the second electroluminescent fiber electrode. 